Mike Lovell (tmb), Andy Henderson (tpt), Willie Entwhistle (alt/clt/vln), Chris Howes (tenor gtr/bjo/vcl), Colin Turner (bs sax), Pete Edowes (dms), Rosie Harrison (vcl/sop/alt/clt).
I'd never seen Dave Savill since 1972 in San Sebastian when he was part of the Newcastle Big Band. Knowing he played trumpet with Mike Lovell's Six In A Bar + 1 both Ian Heslop and I made the pilgrimage to North Shields to turn back the clock whilst bearing gifts and greetings from Dave Brown, Phil and Ursula Doggett as well as our good selves.
Dave wasn't there! A dep had made the Trans-Pennine crossing! - just as well we only brought the greetings. The Frankincense and Myrrh will have to keep for the next 38 years!
Nevertheless, even without Dave they were a workmanlike band along the lines of say Harry Gold and His Pieces of Eight.
Both Ian and I found it strange that everything was charted but this was as much hot dance music as out and out Dixieland and, as such, judged on it's own merits, very well done.
Rosie Harrison is a delightful asset to the band both visually, vocally and instrumentally. I enjoyed the way she handled the vocal on Hang Out The Stars in Indiana. Lovell claimed it to be by Ray Noble but in fact the credits on their own CD cites Harry Woods which, in fact, seems to be more logical. Rosie also blew a nice sop sax chorus on The Fish Seller although her skyscraper heels, vanishing hemline and 'Come up and see me some time' hair-do was unlike any Fish Seller I've ever met!
It was all good fun and the band-jackets were perfect period pieces but I didn't hang around for the second half.
Lance.
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